One of the best parts of re-watching a comic book movie is looking for special Easter eggs along the way. Both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe are full of Easter eggs, both calling back specific comic book moments, teasing possible future events, and sometimes, hinting about a character yet to appear in the movie or television world.
DC has done this in both the DCEU and the Arrowverse on The CW. In both franchises, there have been a plethora of heroes and villains show up. However, there have also been Easter eggs that hint at heroes yet seen, and many fans who picked these out still wonder when or if those characters will ever show up.
The Atom - DCEU
In Zack Snyder’s Justice League, several heroes ended up teased for future inclusion in the DCEU. One of these was The Atom. There was a scientist character working with Silas Stone named Ryan Choi. He ended up in charge after Stone’s death and that was all that he meant to the movie. However, DC Comics’ fans know Choi is also the man who later became the second Atom. While he never took on the role in this movie, the DCEU introduced him to audiences, leaving the door open for Atom’s eventual introduction.
Gorilla Grodd - DCEU
As Justice League showed, Flash has been in action for quite a while. Camera footage captured him taking care of small street-level crimes but remaining hidden while doing it. He even used his power in the movie to save Iris West, once again remaining hidden while doing it. When Barry Allen met Bruce Wayne, he made a comment that also hints he battled one of his fiercest foes. Barry told Bruce he speaks sign language, but only “gorilla sign language.”
Robin - DCEU
There was a scene in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice where Batman was walking through his Bat Cave and a costume was displayed. This was Robin's costume, with the words "Ha Ha Ha Jokes on you Batman" spray painted on it. This looked to be Jason Todd's costume, as Joker killed him in "A Death in the Family." There were also hints that Snyder intended it to be Dick Grayson's costume, and Joker killed Dick instead. Regardless of who it was, it proves Robin existed in this world.
Green Lantern - DCEU
There was a Green Lantern in Zack Snyder's Justice League, but it wasn't who fans expected to see. Instead, it was Yalan Gur in the past when he teamed with the Amazonians and Atlanteans and Gods of Earth to battle Darkseid. He ended up dying, but his ring got away, searching for its next holder.
This leads to who would take over next, and who should step up for the future. There was a scene in the Knightmare future where Kilowog lay dead. With all of this, Hal Jordan's Green Lantern never showed up in the DCEU, although Snyder laid the groundwork.
Swamp Thing - Arrowverse
While there was a Swamp Thing series that aired on DC Universe, and later replayed on The CW, this was not part of the Arrowverse. In the sixth season of Arrow, master-hacker Cayden James showed up, and he brought a Swamp Thing Easter egg with him. James stole the nano-thermite for his bomb from The Sunderland Corporation. This is the same corporation that tried to capture Swamp Thing for their evil goals in the comics.
Star Sapphire - DCEU
Carol Ferris appeared in the DCEU in a small, almost insignificant role. However, in DC Comics, she played a very important role in the lives of Justice League member Green Lantern. In Man of Steel, Ferris was an Air Force officer and an assistant to Calvin Swanwick, who turned out to be Martian Manhunter. She also appeared in a cameo in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the comics, Carol was the love interest of Hal Jordan and became a member of the Star Sapphire Corps.
Green Lantern - Arrowverse
There have been a lot of Easter eggs that point to Green Lantern in the Arrowverse. However, despite Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen being best friends in the comics, they never appeared together in the Arrowverse. One of the Easter eggs was a sign for Coast City and Ferris Airlines, both from Green Lantern comics.
A bigger Green Lantern Easter egg showed up in the Arrow series finale. In that, Diggle was ready to leave for Metropolis, and he found a mysterious box. When he opened it, the box glowed green in his face. Fans thought it hinted that Diggle would be the Arrowverse answer to John Stewart, but it didn’t happen.
Booster Gold - DCEU
Booster Gold had a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo in Man of Steel. This was even harder to see that the Wayne Enterprises satellites that hinted at Batman's arrival in the DCEU in that movie. For Booster Gold, it was an homage to his original comic book line; there was a neon sign for Blaze Comics, which is the fictional comic book line that published Booster Gold comics in the DC Universe world. Unlike Batman, Booster Gold never showed up in the DCEU.
Solomon Grundy - Arrowverse
Solomon Grundy could exist in the Arrowverse. but he hasn’t dragged his way out of a swamp yet. In Arrow‘s second season, Sebastian Blood built his army up and one member of this army was a man named Cyrus Gold. When subjects received the Mirakuru serum, Gold was the only survivor, and it gave him superhuman powers. Arrow killed Gold when he dumped chemicals on him. In the comics, Gold rose from the dead as Solomon Grundy, but he wasn’t so lucky in the Arrowverse.
Bane - Arrowverse
During the Elseworlds episodes, there was a clear homage to Bane, specifically The Dark Knight Rises version from Christopher Nolan. During this crossover, Nora Fries (Mr. Freeze’s wife) was looking through some shelves during the Arkham riot and she happened upon a mask on the shelf. This mask was the exact one that Tom Hardy wore as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
